Visual record selector and indicator system



Nov. 17; 1942. c, A. TAYLOR, JR 2,302,155

VISUAL RECORD SELECTOR AND INDICATOR SYSTEM Filed June 28, 1941- 2Sheets-Sh eet 1 INVENTOR.

O 1942. c. A. TAYLOR, JR

VISUAL RECORD SELECTOR AND INDICATOR SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June28, 1941 l l l /(Mezzce w 5% 4; M

Patented Nov. 17, 1942 VISUAL RECORD SELECTOR AND INDICATOR SYSTEMClarence A. Taylor, Jr., Dallas, 'lcx.

Application June 28, 1941, Serial No. 400,225

5 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for the visual indication on apublicly located indicator, associated with a loud speaker, ofphonograph records playing and next to be played on a remotely locatedphonograph.

Also this invention has to do with suitable apparatus for indicatingpublicly a symbol associated with a particular phonograph record whichis in process of playing so that such record may be instantly andaccurately identified by name or title.

This invention is constructed so as to provide in one unit a publiclyplaced indicator combined with a loud speaker so that a guest in a placeof public entertainment may quickly determine the identity and name ofthe musical composition or song which he is then hearing over the loudHowever, the invention may be operated by having the loud speakerlocated separately from the public indicator, and the latter be sopositioned that patrons of such places as cafes, dance halls and thelike may easily determine the name of the record next to be played aswell as the name of the record playing.

Certain type of ordinary apparatus may have an indicator on the table ofa guest or patron which shows him the number or name of the record hehimself has selected to be played, but guests at other tables cannotknow what is to be the next record.

Usually, however, the common form of selector at a guests table leavesno indication whatever of the forthcoming record (by number orotherwise) after the guest has pushed a selecting button. Thereaftereven he has to depend on his memory for a knowledge of the record thatis about to be played.

This invention is much more economical to build and therefore saves theoperator considerable initial cost because record selective mechanism isfound at one central point and serves all patrons while ordinary devicesare very expensive for the reason that the coin box, or wall box as itis sometimes called, is filled with a great number of switches andparaphernalia which my invention makes unnecessary to install therein.

The objects of my invention are indicated in the foregoing observationsconcerning it. However, the general object is to provide recordselecting mechanism associated with a centrally located indicator whichdisplays an illuminated number to be found usually in the immediatevicinity of the loud speaker over which sound from a record bearing thisnumber is being heard for the purpose of identifying such record, and

at the same time to likewise provide an illuminated number similarlylocated which will indicate the identity of the record shortly to beheard in play on a distantly located phonograph.

A further object of my invention is to provide mechanism whereby notonly the guest making the selection but all other patrons present mayknow what record is forthcoming by simply glancing up at a convenientlylocated and illuminate-d indicator in the vicinity of the loud speakerover which the record is to be played or is being played.

No longer does the uninformed person interested in music have to ask thewaiter What is the name of that record?" My invention makes this queryunnecessary, Furthermore it fosters and promotes quickly an appreciationand knowledge of music by name and tune.

A typical form of my invention may be generally described as follows: Aloud speaker is arranged with a series of lights of one color about itand also a series of lights of another color. Each light, of whatevercolor, illuminates some separate number or letter or other symbol whichdesignates a particular record among the several records in the cabinetof a distant-phonograph. On the guest's table is an index of theserecords setting out the name as well as the number or symbol thereof.Associated with this index is record selecting mechanism and recordindicating mechanism. The device is usually operated with a coin controlso as to select a record and put it into play only after it is paid for.The illumination on the indicator is arranged about the loud speaker soas to show two things: (1) The forthcoming selection, and (2) theselection being played.

A typical example of my invention is illustrated and described in theaccompanying drawings and in this specification and in the claimsappended, which disclosures set forth the novelty inherent in myinvention.

For the purpose of making simple and clear the essential requirements ofmy invention I have shown in the drawings and this specification asystem having only four WhtE lights and four green ligh s capable ofhandling onlv four records, but in practice the system usually controlstwenty or more records, together with appropriate lights.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 shows a typical selector h s with coin slot and selector buttonwith program panel on the face of the box.

Figure 2 shows a typical phonograph with sections cut away to disclosethe principal parts of the record selector mechanism and the indicatinglight controls.

Figure 3 is a typical arrangement of the loud speaker with illuminatedrecord indicator thereabout.

Figure 4 is a complete diagram of the wiring of the system in which areindicated the essen tial switches and connections.

In the drawings the numeral l designates selector box which has thereonprogram panel 2, coin receptacle 3 and selector button 4. This programpanel is illuminated by several electric lights 5. Within the box is arecord selector switch 6 operated by the button 4. Also therein is coinswitch 1.

The wiring circuits entering box I are three in number, each circuithaving the common wire 8. Wire 9 completes the circuit illuminating thebox. Wire l completes the coin trip circuit. Wire ll completes therecord selecting circuit to switch 6.

The loud speaker I 2 may be conveniently located as respects the publicindicator [3, but in the preferred form the latter is built around theformer as shown in Figure 3.

A series of illuminated numbers l4 (as many or as few as desired) aredisplayed as a part of the public indicator. They may be arranged in acircle, as shown; or they may be arranged in vertical horizontal rows.But however arranged each such number represents a separate record whichmay be played by the phonograph and each such separate number isindicated again opposite the name of the appropriate record on theprogram in panel 2.

Two separate lighting circuits are arranged to illuminate the numbers l4with different colored lights. For instance the lights on one suchcircuit may be white and these are indicated with the numeral I5. Thelights on the other circuit may be green and these are indicated withthe numeral l6.

In Figure 3 the green light is shown to be illuminating record number 3,and the white light is illuminating record number 1.

The green light shows that record number 3 is being played. The whitelight shows that record number 1 has been selected to be played and maybe shortly heard.

Circuit I! connects the loud speaker l2 to the amplifier (not shown)within the phonograph cabinet. An extension 8a of line 8 furnishes thecommon wire to complete the lighting circuits to the indicating numbersin public indicator i3.

Circuits to white lights is are completed by wires l8, I9, and 2| whichlead from switches controlling the same, the contact points of suchswitches being numbered l8s, l9s, 20s, and Us respectively. The switchmechanism for controlling these green lights and contacting thesecontact points may be located in convenient proximity to the phonographor within the phonograph cabinet as may phase the operator.

Wires leading from green lights [6 are shown as 22, 23, 24 andrespectively; and such wires lead to switches 22s, 23s, 24s and 25srespectively. The last group of switches are more conveniently locatedwithin the phonograph cabinet 26 because they are brought into operationonly during the period in which a phonograph record is actually playing.

Control mechanism for selecting a record may be of standard design andconstruction such as may easily be obtained on the market for thispurpose. An important part of such mechanism is commonly known as theselector-solenoid assembly 21 which operates to bring into play thedesired record after deposit of a coin. In this assembly solenoid 28 maybe energized only after the closure of switch 29. Likewise solenoid 30is associated with switch 3|, and solenoid 32 with switch 33 andsolenoid 34 with switch 35. In assembly 21 there is thus found aseparate solenoid associated with each record; and when one of suchsolenoids is activated it selects the particular record with which it isassociated and no other. This mechanism for so doing is standardequipment on the market, the details of which it is not thoughtnecessary to here describe. However, the diagrammatic arrangement ofthis assembly is set out in Figure 4 and illustrated again in Figure 2.

Within the phonograph cabinet 26 is a motor 36 which when put in motionby switches associated with the coin switch 1 furnishes the motive powerfor placing a record in proper position and for playing the record.

Within circuit l0 leading from coin switch I is a solenoid 31 whichoperates switches 38 and 39, the former closing to energize wire 40which furnishes current to assembly 21; while the closing of switch 39puts motor 36 in operation.

The incoming electric power used for the operation of this entireinvention is shown as moving along wires 4| and 42 and is usuallyreceived at 110 volts. A transformer 43 reduces voltage to all lightsand to all solenoids in the system except solenoids in assembly 21.

Switching unit 44 is comprised of magnet 45, armature 46, ratchet 41 andswitch arm 48. A spring 49 normally prevents engagement between 45 and46, 46 being mounted on pin 50 and having a dog 5| extending therebeyondso positioned that when 45 is energized 46 is drawn thereagainst and dog5i operates against a tooth on ratchet 41 to cause the ratchet to moveclockwise the distance of one notch.

Beneath switch arm 48 are two contact points, the outermost makingcontact with l8s, I9s, 20s and 21s, and the innermost making contactwith points 29, 3|, 33 and 35.

When a record is brought into play it moves horizontally along one of aseries of grooves 52 until it strikes a switch at the end of suchgroove. These groove switches are shown as 22s, 23s, 24s and 255.

My invention is operated as follows:

A patron making a tentative selection may cause several numbers(illuminated with light of a distinctive color, as with white light, forinstance) to appear in succession about the loud speaker; and the lastilluminated number tells him and others what his selection finally is.Meanwhile (or presently) a colored light, perhaps green, steadily burnsopposite the number of the record actually playing. This is the mannerin which guests are informed concerning music presently playing inaddition to giving them the identity of a forthcoming selection.

The selector boxes I being located usually on or in convenient proximityto the tables of the guests are so placed that a patron may readily readthe names of the records as they appear on program panel 2. The guestdecides which record he desires to hear. We will assume that it isrecord number 3. He then looks at public indicator 13. One number onthat indicator is always illuminated with a white light. If the numberso illuminated happens to be number 3 all the operator has to do is dropa coin in coin slot 3. If some other number than 3 is illuminated, saynumber 4, for instance, the operator presses the selector button on theselector box. This will cause the white light to move in clockwisefashion to the next number on the public indicator which, on thesimplified drawings, appears in Figure 3 as number 1. Then the operatorpresses the button again and the white light moves to number 2. Hepresses it one more time and the light moves to number 3, his selection,whereupon he drops his nickel.

It is to be noted that when the selector button 4 is manually operatedit closes switch 6 whereupon current flows through circuit H andenergizes magnet 45 so that armature 4B is drawn thereagainst. Armature46 being mounted on pin 50 so that the movement of this armature towardthe magnet forces dog 5| into contact with a tooth on ratchet 41, andfull movement of this armature causes switch arm 48 to move in clockwisedirection and come to rest with its contact points on the next pair ofswitches encountered while moving in this clockwise direction. Eachmanipulation of selector button 4 causes this switch arm 48 to move tothe next pair of switches. It will be found that this switch arm hascome to rest upon switches 20 and 33 when record number 3 is selected.The operation of switch 20s causes a white light 15 to show aroundnumber 3 on the public indicator; and the operation of switch 33 causessolenoid 32 to operate a select record number 3 for playing (but thisrecord will not play until a nickle is dropped in the slot).

When the nickle passes through coin receptacle 3 it operates switch 1.This allows current to flow to solenoid 31 which operates switches 38and 39, the latter being the switch to motor 36 which is put inoperation when this switch is closed.

When switch 38 is thus closed it energizes selector-solenoid assembly 27and causes an upward movement of a pin from the particular solenoidassociated with record number 3 so that such record is selected to beplayed and is caused to move out along one of the slots 52. This recordwill then strike and operate switch 24s; and the operation of this lastnamed switch causes a green light [6 to illuminate the number 3 on thepublic indicator l3.

The record selecting mechanism associated with solenoid-selector 21 forthe purpose of bringing the proper record into play is standardmechanism long upon the market and its operation has become almost ascommonplace as the operation of an electric motor, the details of whichit is believed unnecessary to recount here.

Thus it will be seen that at the will of the operator a white light maybe caused to illuminate any one of the many numbers appearing on thepublic indicator and such illumination shows as well to all the peoplepresent in the establishment where my invention is located as to theoperator-patron what record is next immediately available for playingupon the deposit of a coin, that is to say, what record has beenselected for playing. Likewise the record actually in process some Roomof playing is indicated by a green light during the time the record isin play. Such information is an attraction to the establishmentemploying my invention and is a convenience and advan tags to thepatrons of such an establishment.

I claim:

1. In a record selecting and identifying device ahphongggaph,electricaLmeans..ior selecting a record for play thereon, a visualindicator having symbols thereon for the identification oir ecordsavailable for'play, means for illuminatingwith a lig h t 'oLone colorthe symbol associated with the .record selected for playing and meansfor illuminating with a light of another color the symbol associatedwith the record actually playing.

2. In a public indicating system a centrally located phonograph recordindicator having arbitrary symbols thereon, separate pairs of electriclights of diverse colors capable of illuminating each of said symbols,remote means for successively energizing one Of each pair of lights andelectrically operated automatic switch means for energizing separatelythe other light of said pair.

3. In combination a phonograph, a separately located loud speakerconnected thereto by electric circuit, record selecting means associatedwith the phonograph, a public record indicator associated with the loudspeaker, arbitrary symbols on said indicator each adapted to indicate aseparate record, means for separately illuminating each of said symbolswith lights of any one color for indicating the record then soundingover the loud speaker and additional means for separately illuminatingsaid symbols with lights of a diilerent color to indicate the recordnext to be heard.

4. In a system for publicly indicating phonograph records a loudspeaker,a public indicator in immediate proximity therewith, a series of symbolson said indicator identifying records available for playhylsaidepgnograph, an electric lightlig circuit having separateglobes forilluminating each of said symbols, another lighting circuit forseparately illuminating each of said symbols with a color differing fromthat of the lights of the first circuit.

5. In a public entertainment system phonoraph, -a o lpnerated,switghforiting p ay thereofifaiseries of electrical switches for selecting recordsfor play on the phonograph, a distantly and publicly located loudspeaker, an electrical circuit connecting phonograph and loud speaker sothat the play of the former may be heard over the latter, a publiclylocated indicator associated with the loud speaker and having a seriesof arbitrary symbols thereon, each designating a separate phonographrecord, a pair of separately colored electric lights adjacent to eachsymbol, an electrical circuit between the phonograph and the indicatorwhereby a light of one color is illuminated to indicate the recordactually playing over the loud speaker and a separate circuit of likecharacter adapted to illuminate a light of different color to indicatethe record selected to be next played.

CLARENCE A. TAYLOR, JR.

